Das Mädchen Johanna: A historical relic with a sour aftertaste

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you are a total nerd for film history or someone who wants to see how propaganda tries to hide in the clothes of a classic hero story. If you’re just looking for a good movie to wind down with, steer clear. You’ll probably hate the suffocating tone if you want something purely historical.

There is this weird tension running through the whole thing. It’s Joan of Arc, sure, but she feels like a tool for a cause rather than a person. You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you that her struggle is a blueprint for something else entirely.

Angela Salloker plays Joan with this intense, almost frightening stare. Sometimes she looks like she’s looking right through the camera, past the audience, and into some terrifying future. It’s unsettling. You find yourself wondering if she knew what the script was actually trying to say.

The vibe check

• The lighting is overly dramatic, almost like it’s trying too hard to be epic.
• Some of the background actors look bored, or maybe they just knew the gig was up.
• The dialogue feels like a lecture you didn't sign up for.

There is a scene in the middle where she’s addressing the troops. It’s meant to be rousing, but it just feels cold. Like, really cold. It lacks the heart you’d expect from a story about a girl who just wanted to save her country. Instead, it’s all stiff postures and shouting.

It’s nowhere near as light or fun as Alice's Egg Plant, which is obviously a totally different beast, but that’s the kind of contrast you get when you dig into 30s cinema. This movie is heavy. It’s like eating lead for lunch.

I caught myself pausing to check the release year again. 1935. Yeah, that explains the weird, stiff energy. It’s a movie that’s trying to wear a mask, but the mask is slipping in every other shot. The director, Veit Harlan, clearly had an agenda that makes the whole experience feel less like a film and more like a warning.

The cinematography is technically fine, I guess. It’s got that crisp, high-contrast look that was popular back then. But it doesn't save the soul of the thing. It’s a beautifully shot house with nothing inside it.

Don't expect a nuanced take on the Saint of Orléans. This is pure, unadulterated projection. You walk away feeling like you need to go watch a documentary just to scrub the bias off your brain. It’s a strange, heavy, and frankly, a bit gross little relic. Watch it for the history, but don’t expect a good story. 🎞️